A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 10:30 am in the Church of St. Jude, Waltham for Joseph A. Tardif.
Mr. Tardif, a son of the late Philomon P. and Bibiane C. (LeClair) Tardif, died in the Mount Auburn Hospital on Sunday May 31, 2015 after a brief illness. He was 80.
Joseph proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp. stationed mostly in Morocco North Africa. He had the honor of being a Charter Member of the Private Charles J. Shutt Detachment along with his life long friend Paul Orally.
Joseph worked as an electrical engineer, and also as a master electrician.
Joseph volunteered as a coach for Waltham Youth Hockey for many years. He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren’s involvement in sports. There were not many games he missed. He often liked to brag about the Saturday he made eight games in one day.
He loved being around his family. He was described as a larger than life character who was always the life of the party, bringing his guitar to all family events.
He was and still is an inspiration to his children, grandchildren and all that know him.
Joseph was also a life member of D.A.V.-Waltham, VFW Post 1105, Burnham Manning Post, Watertown and a member of the Canadian-American Club in Watertown.
He was the beloved husband of the late Mary J. “Joanie” (Kennedy). Devoted father of Cheryl M. Kelly & her husband Watertown Police Officer Robert Kelly; Dep. Chief, Watertown Fire Department, Daniel A. & his wife Elina all of Watertown; Karen A. Hollowell & her husband Richard of Chelmsford and Erik J. & his wife Linda of Natick. Loving grandfather of Christopher, Erika & Lauren Kelly, Alison, Stephanie & Ryan Hollowell, Joseph, Matthew, Erik & Shawn Tardif and Bilal and Yasmine Sabrah & Najla Clayton. Great-grandfather of Layla Clayton.
Funeral from the MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home, 270 Main St., Watertown on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Saint Jude, 147 Main St., Waltham. Interment Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown.
Visiting hours: Wednesday 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joseph’s name may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.